Bed lamp and the like



Sept. 11, 1934. E. P. RYAN BED LAMP AND THE LIKE Filed July 2,1932 2Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 11, 1934. E. P. RYAN BED LAMP AND THE LIKE FiledJuly 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E12 r2412 .2? .Rmzv

Patented Sept. 11, 1934 1,973,152 1 BED LAMBAND THE LIKE Edward P. Ryan,Baltimore, Md.

7 Application my 2, 1932, Serial No. 620,667

11 Claims.

My invention relates to improvement in lamps, and particularly, bedlamps.

The invention has, for one of its primary objects, to provide a bed lampwhich will not only be ornamental but which also is susceptible ofadjustment, so as to throw the light upon the book or magazine as thereaderlies or reclines in bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bedlamp which is very simple in construction, easy to adjust, and will bebut little, if any, more expensive than the usual bed lamp which in thelast analysis is largely ornamental and of very little practical use forreading purposes, owing to the fact that the light is not thrown uponthe book.

The invention also resides in certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of the various parts, and in modes ofoperation, all of which will be readily apparent upon reference to theaccompanying drawings in connection with the detailed descriptionappearing hereinafter.

The drawings illustrate what now appear to be the preferred forms of theinvention, but it is to be understood that the same may be modifiedconsiderably within the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimedhereinafter.

In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used todesignate the same parts in all views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form'of the invention,illustrating its application to the head rail of a bed stead;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same with the coveringremoved;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the bearing taken on the line 3 tof Fig. 4; I

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of'the lamp frame;

Fig. 5 is a view of a modification shown in perspective;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the form of device shown in Figures 5and 6, and 7 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross section of anothermodification.

Referring specifically to the drawings, and to the form shown in Figures1, 2, 3 and 4, numeral 8 denotes the bed lamp generally, having a frameprovided with the usual or conventional covering 9 which is preferablyof ornamental colored fabric. As shown, a pintle' 10 isprovided at eachend of the frame, and projecting beyond the fabric to be received in thebearing eye 11 which is formed by the brace rods 12, 13, whichareconnected to the vertical end members 14 of the hanger frame as bestseen in Fig. 4.

The upper ends of the hanger frame members 14 are hooked as indicated at14 to engage over the head of the bed stead as indicated at 15.

. The hanger frame comprises, in addition to the vertical end rods 14,the top and. bottom horizon-v tal rods 13 12 and the crossed brace rodsor wires 15, 15, illustrated in Fig. 4. a

The upstanding corner rods or members '14 of the hanger frame areprovided with eyes 14 at their lower ends receiving the lower frame rod12 which, as illustrated, is acontinuation of the brace rod 12.Likewise, the upper hanger frame member 13 is, or may be a continuationof the bearing supporting brace rod 13. The rods, 13 and 13 will besoldered to the upper ends of the hanger frame members 14, and the eyes14 will likewise be soldered to the lower hanger frame member 12 so thatwe have provided a rigid hanger or supporting frame for the lamp frameproper.

The hanger frame also has a vertical supporting member 16 intermediatethe vertical end members 14, and this member 16 is formed with a latchelement 16 at its lower end which is adapted to engage over the lowerhorizontal side bar 19 of the lamp frame, so as tohold the same againstshifting to reading position. In other words, the-latch element 1t holdsthe lamp frame in its ordinary ornamental position, which is theposition that the lamp will preferably be kept in except when it isactually being used for reading purposes.

Coming now to the lamp frame itself, it will be seen that the samecomprises arched end" members 17 of wire or the like, and having thebottom rail portions 17 The frame is preferably formed of wire ofsuiiicient gauge to give the frame the requisite stiffness necessary.However, other materials may be used, such as wood, strip metal, and thelike. i w

The arched end members 17 are connected, as shown, by intermediate toprail 18 and by lower horizontal rails 19, which are very clearly shownin Figures 2 and 4.

In order 'to give additional stiffness to the lamp frame, at the site ofeach pintle 10, I provide the diagonal space member 20 which ispreferably made in two sections of whichone is turned outwardly toprovide the pintle 10,-it extending, as bestseen in Fig. 3, through adisklike enlargement which is soldered or welded to the member 20, andto a brace member- 21 which extends diagonally towards the forward lowerlamp socket 25, while the supporting member 23 ,I member 36 of the shadeframe. '65

corner of the arched end member 17. In this way, I provide a very strongand rigid support for the pintle 10 which is made entirely of wire framemembers.

The members 18 serve, not only to connect the arched end pieces 17 butalso, as shown in Fig. l, provide supports for the lamp socket carriermembers 22, 23, which have their ends anchored to the lowermost framemembers 18.

he socket-supporting cross member 22 is turned intermediate its ends toprovide the eye 22 for receiving the reduced rear end of the isdepressed intermediate its ends so as to lie beneath and support theenlarged portion of the lamp socket 25.

Numeral 24 designates the coil spring having one end anchored to thelower bar l2 of the hanger frame, and the other end anchored to one ofthe arched end frame members 17 of the lamp frame. The spring 24 will beunder slight tension so as uo tend to swing'the lamp frame outwardlyto'the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. This action is resisted, asbestseen in Fig. 2, by the latch element l6 engaging slightly under thelower rear frame member 19 of the lamp frame.

As will be obvious, it is a simple matter to release the latch 16 fromthe rear horizontal frame member 19 so that the spring will actuate thelamp frame outwardly to throw the light upon the book the readerreclines or lies in bed. When it is desired to return the lamp to itsnormal. position, the shade is simply pushed rearwardly until the member19 again engages the latch element 16*. r I

The lamp of Figures li, as will be seen, is

made entirely of wire with the parts soldered or otherwise securedtogether, thus providing a very light and satisfactory frame, which canbe read ily rocked in the bearing eyes 11 toan operative position.

' Turning now to Figures 5, 6, and 7, We have a slightly modified formof the invention illustrating the use of strip material, such as wood ormetal, for the production not only of the hanger frame but also of thelamp or shade frame.

Fig. 5, for instance, illustrates the application of the modified formof lamp to the head 15 of a bed-stead,-it being noted that the hangerframe provides upstanding members 32 having hooked ends 32 Members 32are connected below the hooked portions by cross bar 33 and there is anadditional cross bar 34 at the lower ends of the members 32 forconnecting the same. These elements comprise the hanger frame as will bereadily apparent from an inspection of the drawing.

The hanger frame is connected to the lamp shade by means of the hingeelements 35 which are secured to the upper cross member 33 of the hangerframe and to the opposed horizontal I I I This is best shown in Figures6 and '7. v

The shade frame, as illustrated in Figures 5, 6, and 7, comprises a pairof spaced arched members'or strips 38 extending lengthwise of the frame,and having their endsanchored to the end bars 4.0 and to the lowerlongitudinal frame bars 36 from which rise the vertical post elements 37which connect, not only'to the arched members 88, butalso to the upperlongitudinal bars or members 3.), as best illustrated in Fig. 7.Additional cross members 39 connect the arched frame members 38 at thesite of the upstanding posts or members 37, so that the element 3'7, 36,36 provide a rectangular support at both the front and rear of the shadeframe for the arched members 38. It is particularly important that theframe be rigid and firm at the site of the hinges 35. The constructionshown and described will obviously provide a very sturdy frame, andparticularly a sturdy support for the hanger frame hinges, as justpointed out.

In the form of invention shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the springv 24 ofFigure 4 has been eliminated, and the lamp is maintained in adjustedposition by means of links 41, 42, having a friction joint connection 45as shown in Figure 6, the end of the link 41 being pivoted as at 43 tothe adjacent hanger frame member 32 while the link 42 is pivoted as at44 to the adjacent upstanding post member 37 at the rear of the lampframe. All. of the pivot points referred to,'namely, e3, 44, 45, maybefriction pivots so that the'links will remain in an adjusted position tosupport the lamp at any desired angle for reading purposes,

but which will admit of ready return of the lamp frame to engagementwith the hanger members 32 when it is desired to use the lamp merely forornamental purposes.

The device of Figures 5, 6, and 7 is obviously most economical andsimple in construction. The lamp frame is supported in flat contact withthe hanger frame when the lamp is not being used for reading purposes,and has all the appearance of the ordinary, ornamental bed lamp.

The lower hanger frame bar 34 preferably extends the full length of thelamp frame, so to provide a stop or support for the frame in displayposition, so that the two frames will lie in flat contact with oneanother in display position to relieve the hinges or pivots 35 of theframe.

As in Fig. 8 the device of Figure 7 may have a forwardly extendingspring latch element 68 carried by the bottom rail 34 of the hangerframe to engage the corresponding rail 36 of the shade frame. Asillustrated the latch 60 a finger piece 60 The links 41, of Fig. 6 areeliminated. I

Having thus described my inventioitwhat I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: I

l. A bed lamp or the like comprising a hanger frame, vertical end rodsincorporated in said hanger frame, and having hooked ends, top andbottom rail members incorporated in said hanger frame and connected tosaid end rods below said hooked portions thereof, .the ends of said top'and bottom rail members being turned forwardly and converging at theirextremities, a bearing carried by the forwardly converging ends of saidtop and bottom rail members, said shade frame having pintles engaging insaid bearings and including end pieces and longitudinally'extendingconnecting members for said end pieces, and

2. In a bed lamp, a hanger frame, comprising end rods having hookedupper ends, top and bottom rail members incorporated in said hangerframe and connected to said end rods, the ends of said top and bottomrail members being turned forwardly and converging at their extremities,

bearings provided by said converging rail ex tremities, said shade framehaving pintles engaging in said bearings, end pieces and longitudinallyextending connecting members therefor, latch means associated with thebottom rail portion of said hanger frame and adapted to engage anadjacent longitudinal connecting member of said shade frame to hold thelatter in display position, and yielding means operable upon release ofsaid latch to actuate said shade frame to reading position.

3. In a bed lamp, a hanger frame comprising end rods having hooked upperends, top and bottom rail members incorporated in said hanger frame andconnected to said end rods, the ends of said top and bottom rail membersbeing turned forwardly and converging at their extremities, bearingsprovided by said converging rail extremities, said shade frame havingpintles engaging in said bearings, end pieces and longi tudinallyextending connecting members therefor, latch means associated with thebottom rail portion of said hanger frame and adapted to engage anadjacent longitudinal connecting member of said shade frame to hold thelatter in display position, and yielding means operable upon release ofsaid latch to actuate said shade frame to reading position, saidyielding means being connected in part to one of said rail mem bers ofthe hanger frame and in part to one of the longitudinal members of theshade frame.

4. A bed lamp or the like comprising a hanger frame and a shade framepivotally connected thereto, and connected link elements carried by eachof said frames and having, means for maintaining the shade frame in bothdisplay and reading positions.

5. A bed lamp or the like comprising a hanger frame and a shade framepivotally connected a frame normally positioned adjacent said hangerframe, means for tiltably connecting said frames together and anindependent extensible means having end portions connected to saidhanger frame and said shade frame at fixed points thereon formaintaining said shade frame relative to said hanger frame in anadjusted position.

7. In a bed lamp structure, a hanger frame having a shade framepivotally connected thereto and anextensible means having extremitalportions connected to fixed points on said frames for maintaining one ofsaid frames in an adjusted position.

8. A bed lamp comp-rising a hanger frame equipped with means forsecuring the same to a bed and provided with lineal frame portions,

means connected to said frame and consisting of a shade frame equippedwith lineal frame portions some of which function to retain a lampwithin said shade frame, said shade frame capable of being adjusted tovarious positions whereby light rays emitted by the lamp may be directedover a desired area and extensible means having pivot portions connectedto a fixed point carried by said hanger frame and said shade frame forholding said shade frame in position for directing said rays.

9. A bed lamp or the like comprising swingably connected hanger andshade frames formed with lineal rail portions, and extensible meanshaving pivot portions respectively connected to fixed points onsaid'rail portions of the frames for maintaining the shade frame in bothdisplay and reading positions.

10. A bed lamp structure or the like comprising a hanger frame, a shadeframe adjustably connected thereto, a connecting device having variablyspaceable portions swingably secured to said hanger frame and said shadeframe, and means incorporated in said connection device for connectinsaid variably spaceable securing portions for varying the distancebetween the same in a manner for maintaining one of said frames in anadjusted position relative to the other.

11. A bed lamp structure or the like comprising a hanger frame having ashade frame adjustably connected thereto, a member for holding saidshade frame in predetermined adjusted position and having spacedportions swingably connected to fixed points on said frames and saidholding member incorporating means for effecting and maintainingvariable spacement between said spaced frame engaging portions.

EDWARD P. RYAN.

